Improvement in cautery-electrodes



J. KLDDER.

Cautery-Electrodes.

N0, 161L183. Patented lune 8,1875.

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THE GRAPHIC CCLPHOTO L TH-SQ & 41 PARK PLACE, NY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME KIDDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAUTERY-ELECTRODES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,] 83, dated J une 8, 1875 application filed March 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME KIDDER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Oautery-Electrode, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view, and Fig.2 a sectional side view, of my improved cautery-electrode.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to so improve the galvano-cautery instruments for excising tumors, &c., that they may conveniently be operated and the circuit closed and interrupted by the use of one hand'only, leaving the other hand at liberty for holding some instrument or for other purposes. The invention consists of a cautery-elcctrode, with the usual vulcanized rubber handle and slide-ring for drawing the incandescent cutting-loop, but having the handle extended far enough back of the lower fixed ring that the hand may be applied for firmly holding the instrument while the spring-button for closing and interrupting the circuit is placed in front of the fixed ring, to be operated by the forefinger jointly with the drawing back of the slide and loop by the thumb.

in the drawing, which illustrates my invention, A represents the hard-rubber handle of a tumor-excising instrument for galvano-cautery, being pro ided with slide-ring B, for drawing the incandescent platina loop back in the well-known manner. The metallic guide-piece of the slide B is set into a rubber section of the handle for being insulated from the other half, to which the battery-connecting strips or wires are secured. The cuttingloop is attached to the slide-ring B by setscrews, and drawn back by the thumb for excising the tumor. A fixed ring, 0, for the second finger is applied to the lower section of the handle A at such distance from the most forward position of the slide B that the latter can be conveniently operated by the thumb when the second fingeris placed through the fixed holding-ring O. The handle Ais extended back of the fixed ring to such length that the other fingers may readily be applied around the same for supporting jointly with the middle finger the instrument while the thumb and forefinger operate the cutting mechanism, the first by drawing the loop, the second by establishing or interrupting the circuit. The circuitclosing device D is a common knob and spring, being placed in front of the fixed lower ring 0 in the most convenient position for the forefinger, so that as soon as the loop is applied to the tumor the closing of the battery and the drawing back of the incandescent cutting-loop for excising the tumor are jointly and easily accomplished, while the instrument is at the same time fully within the control of the hand, leaving the other hand free to assist the operation in suitable manner.

The superior advantage of this handle-construction over the old and inconvenient style of handle, and the effective and momentarilycontrolled action of the instrument, renders it more useful and convenient fur the various applications in galvano-cautery.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In galvano-cautery instruments for excising tumors, an insulating-handle, extending back of the fixed supporting-ring to such length that a firm hold for the hand is produced, substantially as specified.

2. In galvanocautery instruments, the insulating-handle having the loop drawing slidering at the upper section and the fixed holding-ring at the lower section, arranged in connection with the circuit opening and closin g spring-button, near the fixed ring, whereby the excising action of the instrument is instantly obtained by the joint employment of the thumb and fingers, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

JEROME KIDDER, M. D.

Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, T. B. MOSHER. 

